Cardiac autonomic responses to high-intensity kettlebell training in untrained young women: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND

and purpose: The autonomic recovery after exercise provides information about the cardiovascular overload employed during the training session. The autonomic response over a training course is unclear in exercises performed at high intensities, such as kettlebell training. The study aimed to characterize the cardiac autonomic modulation after exercise in three distinct phases of a high-intensity kettlebell training program in young women.

METHODS

Ten women (25.0 ± 2.9 years; 23.4 ± 3.0 kg/m) were submitted to 10 weeks of training divided into three phases (three times a week). The autonomic response was measured in the pre-exercise and at 10, 20, and 30 min of recovery and evaluated temporal and linear analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) indices.

RESULTS

vigorous intensity was performed in the sessions (75-86% HRmax). There was a significant reduction of HRV measured during post-exercise recovery (p < 0.05). In the initial two phases, the parasympathetic activity did not rebound to pre-exercise values (p < 0.05), and sympathetic was increased significantly until the end of the recovery period (p < 0.05). The third phase demonstrated the resumption of almost all the HRV indices at pre-exercise values at 20 min of recovery (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The high-intensity kettlebell training program reduces HRV to 30 min of recovery (phases I and II). In the last phase (III), HRV components returned in 20 min. In addition, the program promoted improvement in aerobic fitness.